The seven-day National Day Golden Week is drawing to a close. In the first five days, Hong Kong received nearly 1.266 million visitor arrivals, of which about 1.127 million were mainland visitors. This is set to exceed the Immigration Department's estimate of about 1.29 million mainland visitors for the entire Golden Week, and is expected to bring about HK$1 billion in direct consumption benefits.
Ta Kung Pao reporters followed tourists during the Golden Week, from busy districts to outlying islands, from shopping to in-depth travel. Visitors had diverse experiences. Some repeat visitors said Hong Kong remains a shopping paradise with a wide range of goods and confidence guarantees. Others described their experience in Hong Kong as improving, with more convenient electronic payments and friendly residents. From control points to streets, from shopping districts to countryside, Hong Kong's improvements in reception capacity, service quality and diverse travel and spending options are polishing its reputation as a "hospitality capital".
On National Day, total inbound and outbound passenger trips at all Hong Kong control points exceeded 1.08 million. Mainland visitor arrivals reached 277,000, surpassing last year's 267,000 and even the 260,000 peak in 2018, setting a recent single-day high. As of 9 pm on Oct. 5, cumulative visitor arrivals in the first five days exceeded 1.26 million, including nearly 1.13 million mainland visitors. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said first-day visitor numbers were "very ideal", hotel occupancy of 90% has almost become the norm, five-star hotels were full, and attendance at attractions and theme parks rose year-on-year.
Catering revenue expected at HK$250 million daily, up over 10%
Consumption also performed well. Benefiting from the rebound in the RMB exchange rate and the long Golden Week attracting overnight visitors, the retail sector expects double-digit growth in sales of jewellery, cosmetics and drugstore products, and dried seafood. The catering sector expects average daily turnover of about HK$250 million during the Golden Week, up over 10% year-on-year. Legislative Council member Shiu Ka-fai, citing merchant data, said transaction volumes rose 10% to 20% this year, with dried seafood especially strong; some shops saw business rise 30%, mainly due to effective promotion making visitors and residents aware they can bring back a reasonable quantity of dried seafood for personal use.
In the "shopping paradise", a good shopping spree is a must. During the National Day Golden Week, pharmacies and cosmetics shops, luxury stores and souvenir shops across districts were bustling, with visitors carrying large and small bags. Reporters interviewed several visitors on Canton Road. They said Hong Kong's wide variety of products, reliable quality and better prices were reasons to spend.
Mainland visitor Ms Su from Guangzhou said she buys medicine every time she visits Hong Kong because Hong Kong medicines have a good reputation and quality, and there are many choices, suitable for gifts or personal use. Ms Lv from Shenzhen often buys cosmetics in Hong Kong. She said some cosmetics cannot be bought on the mainland, and Hong Kong not only has a wide range but also offers better prices when combined with the exchange rate. Mr Li from Wuhan came specially to buy gold jewellery for his wedding, with a budget of HK$30,000 to HK$40,000. "The exchange rate is good and low. Buying gold in Hong Kong is more cost-effective, saving about RMB 170 per gram."
From document processing to cross-boundary transport, "all very smooth"
The improved shopping experience is not only about price but also convenience. More than 90% of stores in Hong Kong accept electronic payments, and mainland visitors can use their familiar e-wallets. WeChat Pay has further expanded its QR code ride network for Hong Kong green minibuses, covering Huanggang, Lok Ma Chau, Liantang and Heung Yuen Wai control points, the Hong Kong Coliseum, Kai Tak Sports Park, and the High Island Reservoir East Dam, among other visitor hotspots. One visitor told reporters: "From applying for documents to travelling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the whole experience is very smooth."
The National Day Golden Week was full of events. This year's National Day fireworks over Victoria Harbour attracted about 380,000 people on both sides, the highest in nearly three years. Some visitors exclaimed after watching: "So beautiful, so beautiful!" These dazzling events use tradition as a foundation and the colours present, telling Hong Kong's story well and letting people at home and abroad see it.
The "International Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival" in Victoria Park was also highly popular. Its exhibition period was extended twice, finally to Oct. 7, covering the entire Golden Week. Many visitors came after hearing about it, praising the exquisite and diverse lantern designs.
Wong Ka-wing, head of the Department of Hospitality at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, analysed that tourist behaviour is becoming more diverse. On one hand, visitors favour experiential consumption, enjoying photo spots and food, liking both local Hong Kong restaurants and diverse high-end dining. On the other hand, more visitors are actively exploring new attractions in different districts. For example, the recently popular "sunset bus" has long queues every day, with waits of two to three hours. He suggested further developing the "ticket stub economy", linking performances and sports events with surrounding tourism spending, so visitors can enjoy discounts on other tourism items while attending events, encouraging them to stay and spend in Hong Kong.
Countryside and cultural in-depth tours become a new calling card
In recent years, Hong Kong has continued to develop distinctive tourism resources and launch rich travel routes, making in-depth travel a trend. Beyond the bustling downtown, Hong Kong's natural scenery and island charm have become what many visitors seek. The High Island Reservoir East Dam and Po Pin Chau in Sai Kung offer stunning mountain and sea views. During National Day, Po Pin Chau reservations were fully booked, and many visitors arrived at 7am or 8am. Beijing visitor Ms Wang said Hong Kong's mountains and seas are no inferior to international destinations, and transport links are complete, with less than an hour from urban areas to country parks. Some visitors chose boat tours to explore the Sai Kung coast, seeing the Global Geopark's millions-of-years-old volcanic rocks and sea arches up close. Some visited "hidden" spots in Ma Wan, enjoying the quiet between colourful houses and Tung Wan Beach. Others strolled on Cheung Chau, savouring island life among Pak Tai Temple, mountains and sea, and street scenes.
Local Hong Kong flavour is also popular. The distinctive architecture and community life of Choi Hung Estate and Wah Fu Estate attract many visitors. Some, learning that Choi Hung Estate faces demolition, made a special trip during National Day to take photos, saying the public housing style with clothes hung outside windows has the texture of old Hong Kong films. The "Monster Building" in Quarry Bay also lets visitors feel local culture and history. Hong Kong's East-meets-West character also attracts foreign visitors. Under the Victoria Harbour fireworks on National Day, Polish visitor Dilene came to Hong Kong for five days just to see the fireworks, saying waiting three or four hours was worth it. When she got lost, residents proactively guided her to take buses and the MTR, which she found very warm.
Timothy Chui, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Promotion Association, told Ta Kung Pao that overall mainland visitor numbers during the National Day Golden Week were quite outstanding. In the past, visitors concentrated on traditional sightseeing and shopping hotspots like Tsim Sha Tsui, but this time many independent travellers began to explore alternative routes. Besides urban cultural attractions such as Mei Ho House in Sham Shui Po and the Jao Tsung-I Academy, many also went to Sai Kung and New Territories villages to experience countryside leisure. He believes the industry needs to upgrade and transform, launching more in-depth travel products. If coordinated by proper travel agencies, itinerary quality can be standardized, and high-quality in-depth products combining sightseeing and education can be launched.
Wong Ka-wing reminded that the sudden popularity of countryside attractions has created problems to solve. Taking East Dam as an example, no-shows for reservations need follow-up, and basic facilities at popular countryside spots, including toilets, drink stalls and transport links, need strengthening. He expects future visitors to Hong Kong to move toward specialised tourism, with rising demand for in-depth experiences such as birdwatching and learning about local ecology. As guide training increases, the industry can launch more half-day and one-day tours led by professionals to explore distinctive attractions, creating more jobs and driving demand for outdoor equipment.
Feeling the hospitality capital in warm details
During the Golden Week, Hong Kong's reception capacity and service quality were tested in the details. Under scorching heat, a shop staff member in Tsim Sha Tsui handed drinking water to waiting customers, showing thoughtful service. Several mainland visitors told Ta Kung Pao that "shopping in Hong Kong offers complete goods, good prices and good service", praising Hong Kong people as civilised and hospitable. Ms Su from Zhejiang, who came to Hong Kong for her birthday and was on her fourth visit, said she felt Hong Kong is becoming more hospitable, and she did not worry about safety even travelling alone.
The idea of "whole-city hospitality" is shifting from industry service to an overall social atmosphere. Visitors' impression of Hong Kong has moved from being limited to service industry workers to a positive evaluation of society as a whole. Some overseas visitors praised the service experience as excellent, feeling welcomed by the city and at home.
From smooth clearance at control points to warm details on the streets, from crowds in core shopping districts to leisurely exploration of outlying islands and countryside, from quality guarantees in traditional shopping to seamless electronic payments, what Hong Kong showed during the Golden Week was not only a set of impressive figures, but a systematic improvement in reception capacity, service level and tourism content. As Rosanna Law said, the Tourism Board will use "Only in Hong Kong" as its promotional strategy and continue to launch more distinctive events. When "tourism everywhere" turns from a vision into real experiences under visitors' feet, the "hospitality capital" brand is being polished brighter in every sincere service and every warm detail.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao | Editor: Liu Yu)
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